A busy season lays ahead for lacrosse players in Innisfail with both the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association and the Innisfail Yettis Junior Lacrosse team making advances for the sport in Innisfail and throughout Central Alberta.
After ending their 2010 season with an impressive record first place finish in Tier 3 of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League, the Innisfail Yettis were moved up to Tier 2 for the 2011 season.
They more than accepted the challenge of a higher level of play during their first league game last Friday night beating Red Deer in a close and hard hitting game at the Innisfail Arena.
Last season the Yettis’ Conor Ablett was the top league scorer and teammates Reid Sweir, Ryan McColm, and Graham Russell accompanied him in the top 10 list.
However, the team not only boosted a strong offense but also held the record for the highest points for and against average. As well, they were the least penalized team, which includes tiers 1,2, and 3.
They were also the only team in the league not to have a major penalty all season.
The group of 17 to 21-year-olds will be striving for the same excellence this year and while the higher division will be tough competition the team has a few new additions that will only make them stronger, said team manager Pat Hanson.
Head coach Kevin Graham will once again be leading the team along with assistant coach Tim Schmidt.
The 2011 season will be one of building for the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association (IMLA) as enrollment numbers in the younger levels increase.
This year there were a number of new players registered in the Pee Wee and Tyke levels, which will help build a strong program in later years, said Elizabeth Walton, of the Innisfail Minor Lacrosse.
The program has about 86 players registered, numbers which are consistent with last year’s enrollment.
Despite the growing numbers at the lower age groups players ageing up in the older levels meant there was not enough players to form a Midget team.
So the association decided to form a partnership with the Red Deer Lacrosse Association and seven players from Innisfail have joined Red Deer teams for the season until next year when it is expected the numbers will be high enough for Innisfail to once again have a Midget team.
The association has also partnered with Olds this year to give the female players in Innisfail a chance to play as well.
The Alberta Government gave the association society status this year which will be great for the club as it opens a lot of doors for grants and fundraising, said Walton.
So far IMLA teams have participated in two tournaments; a combined Pee Wee team brought home silver and the Bantam team won two out of their four games and their first tournament of the season.
One of the highlights of the season will be the much anticipated home tournament, Spirit of the Sticks, which will take place from June 10 to 12 this year.
